The Milwaukee 7

The Milwaukee 7, launched in September 2005, was formed to create a regional, cooperative economic development platform for the seven counties of southeastern Wisconsin: Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Waukesha and Washington.  Its mission is to attract, retain and grow diverse businesses and talent.

Together, these seven counties have a wealth of corporate headquarters, a pool of highly skilled workers and world-class amenities.  Competing as a region broadens our range of choices and opportunities and gives us the competitive edge that we need, today, and into the future.  Milwaukee 7 priorities include:

• Business Call Program
• Next Generation Manufacturing Council
• Talent Attraction & Retention / FUEL Milwaukee
  
• Technology Transfer
  
• Water Council
• Workforce Development / Regional Workforce Alliance
  
  

Business Starts, Expansions & Attractions

• BizStarts Milwaukee
• Inner City Business Development
• Milwaukee EB-5 Visa Foreign Investor Program
  
  

Marketing/Branding

• Regional Identity & Branding

MILWAUKEE 7: ACCELERATING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The Milwaukee 7 continues to build the region's capacity and accelerate economic growth.  Through its work, more than 3,200 jobs have been created or retained in the region, with an impact of more than $184 million in ongoing payroll.  The Milwaukee 7 has also leveraged millions of dollars in federal earmarks, state assistance and other municipal investments for business projects that make the Milwaukee Region stronger and a more attractive place to do business.

Clifton Gunderson, one of the nation’s largest certified public accounting and consulting firms, relocated its corporate headquarters from Peoria, Ill. to Wauwatosa on June 1, 2009. 

The move was made in conjunction with the promotion of Krista McMasters to CEO. Only the fourth CEO in Clifton Gunderson’s nearly 50 year history, McMasters is also is the first and only female to serve as CEO among the nation’s top 25 certified public accounting firms in the history of the profession.

“Milwaukee is a vibrant city, rich in culture and history, and locating our firm headquarters here reinforces our commitment to Wisconsin and to our local clients.” said McMasters. “This decision will allow us to better support and meet the needs of our Milwaukee-area clients while continuing to provide the high level of quality and service they have come to expect from us.”

Gehl Corporation, the West Bend manufacturer of construction and agricultural equipment, considered relocating to another state. At risk were 190 high paying headquarter jobs, and the potential of more than 80 new R&D positions. Thanks to a regional response coordinated by the Milwaukee 7 that
included $7 million in state, county and municipal incentives, Gehl is building a new $20 million headquarters and R&D facility that stabilizes and anchors West Bend.

C&D Technologies, a manufacturer of industrial batteries headquartered in Pennsylvania with a plant in Milwaukee, was having workforce and permitting issues here. Milwaukee 7 spearheaded a regional response, which helped establish 50 additional jobs. We then helped secure a federal earmark for the company that led to an initial commitment to bring a multimillion-dollar lithium-ion battery research facility and up to 150 new jobs to Milwaukee, beating out Pennsylvania and Shanghai, China, for the plant.

Germanischer Lloyd, a German engineering firm, opened a U.S. subsidiary in New Berlin to develop wind power products and technologies targeted at Midwest wind farms. The company plans to expand to 15 engineers and expects to hire from local schools such as the Milwaukee School of Engineering.